Fr. Raymond: Sunday Homilies

October 05, 2025

This Homily explores faith as both a gift from God and a deliberate human act—more than a comforting phrase, it is a lived relationship that shapes how we act, choose, and care for others.
Using everyday examples like hospital visits, Mass, and community response to disaster, the Homily invites listeners to recognize faith in concrete actions and to grow by responding daily to God's invitation.

September 21, 2025

This homily unpacks the parable of the shrewd steward to show how raising the master's reputation and taking responsibility teach us about integrity and representing Jesus through our actions.
Directed especially at students, it urges owning mistakes, embracing gradual growth, and making small, disciplined choices now that shape maturity, freedom, and faith for the future.

September 14, 2025

This homily reflects on how life often takes unexpected turns, using the Israelites' and Jesus’ journey to illustrate how suffering can have redemptive meaning.
Fr. Raymond calls listeners to act on their faith in daily life—through sacraments, service, and bringing hope to others—while staying present and allowing the cross to remind us of purpose and love.

September 07, 2025

The cost of following Jesus and what discipleship looks like for college students. It challenges listeners to put God first in their relationships, time, and priorities, and explains that true discipleship requires sacrifice and a reordered life.
Fr. Raymond emphasizes practical ways to pursue Christ—regular prayer, attending Mass, joining campus ministry, and participating in a discipleship program—to grow in relationship with God and hear His voice.
Listeners are invited to take the first step toward pursuing Jesus, trusting that while the cost is real, a life ordered around Him brings greater joy and purpose.

August 31, 2025

This Homily reflects on Jesus' parable about guests jockeying for the best seat to teach that true worth comes from being God's beloved, not from status or comparison.
In the wake of a recent church shooting, Fr. Raymond invites honest grief, prayer for the victims, and a humble, compassionate response that believes evil will not have the last word.

August 24, 2025 (CCM Opening Mass)

This opening campus ministry Homily speaks directly to students navigating the challenges of transition—whether moving into a dorm for the first time, saying goodbye to parents, or entering the workforce. With humor and honesty, Fr. Raymond reassures students that though the journey can feel daunting, they are not alone. Drawing on the Gospel’s reminder that “many will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough,” he emphasizes that growth in academics and faith depends on what one puts into it.
Campus Ministry, he explains, offers more than just events; it is a place of challenge, encouragement, and support—providing opportunities for deeper formation, retreats, and even counseling when needed. These years are not only about earning a degree but about encountering Jesus Christ personally, discovering who you are, and discerning His plan for your life. Ultimately, this is a call to maturity: to step into adulthood with courage, faith, and the willingness to go deeper.

May 04, 2025

In this Homily, I explore the transformative journey of faith, illustrated through the apostles' experiences. We delve into the concept of returning to familiar routines when plans don't pan out and the deeper longing every believer feels to move beyond their past towards a more profound relationship with Jesus.
The narrative recounts Peter’s attempt to return to fishing, only to be drawn in by Jesus' presence. This sparks a discussion about love in its deepest form—'agape'. We reflect on how Jesus meets us at our level, inviting us to rise to a deeper love and relationship with Him.

April 20, 2025 (Easter Vigil)

In the holiest night of the church's year, light shattered darkness and transformed the world forever. Standing with the holy women at the tomb, we hear the angelic proclamation, "He is not here, but is risen." This is not just poetry or comfort for the grieving; it's the very heart of our faith and the axis upon which the cosmos turns.
Reflecting on Pope Benedict XVI's teaching, we delve into the profound truth that everything hinges on the testimony of Christ's resurrection. The women at the tomb discovered not the death they expected, but an absence of a body and the presence of a greater life, prompting timeless questions about where we seek meaning and hope.

April 13, 2025 (Palm Sunday)

As Holy Week unfolds, we are invited to break from our daily routines and embrace a sacred silence that allows us to truly contemplate the life and sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Through the powerful reflections of the Easter Triduum, we are given the opportunity to experience the passion, death, and resurrection of Christ in a deeply personal way.By attending the unique liturgies of the week and finding moments of quiet reflection away from screens and noise, we can allow the presence of God to speak to us more clearly. This week is an invitation to see beyond the ordinary celebrations and immerse ourselves in the profound mysteries of our faith, culminating in the transformative light of the Easter vigil.

April 06, 2025

In this Homily, I delve into the story of the woman caught in the act of adultery, brought before Jesus by the Pharisees. The narrative takes a profound turn as Jesus, displaying an unparalleled understanding and compassion, refrains from condemnation and instead offers forgiveness and hope. I explore the public nature of confessions in ancient times and the personal journey from sin to redemption. Reflecting on the continuous opportunity for forgiveness through confession, emphasizing how each act of seeking mercy brings us closer to sanctification, the transformative power of divine compassion, and the journey towards a sinless life, one step at a time.